Karnataka Cabinet Reshuffle Brings Power Sharing Tussle At Centre Stage; What's Brewing?

After a major setback in Bihar, Congress's top leadership finds itself busy in talks with the Karnataka government as both CM Siddaramiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar are in Delhi.

CM Siddaramaiah is expected to meet Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday evening. The Congress has called it a courtesy meeting, news agency PTI cited sources who said Siddaramaiah may discuss the cabinet expansion in the state.

For a long time, there have been talks in the state's political circles, especially within the ruling Congress, about the chief minister change, citing "power-sharing" agreement involving Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress president.

However, Shivakumar has rubbished talk of his resignation as the state Congress chief, saying he remains a disciplined soldier of the party. Speculations ran high as the Karnataka government completed its first half of a five-year term. Shivakumar Kharge on Monday, which triggered speculations that talks on his elevation to the CM post are underway, in line with the rumoured 2023 agreement with Siddaramaiah.

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Earlier on Sunday, Shivakumar had also met the Congress leadership. Meanwhile, there are also reports that the meetings are being held in a crisis mode.

According to a report by News18, Siddaramaiah is seeking a full reshuffle of the Cabinet, but Shivakumar wants the CM to retain the ministers who had performed well.

Shivakumar is also suggestive of the ouster of ministers only after their review by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief, the position he holds, as well as Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala.

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The report suggests that Shivakumar has been pushing for this in a series of meetings, which he held between late June and the beginning of July.

News agency PTI cited party insiders who said that if the Congress high command approves a cabinet reshuffle, it would signal that Siddaramaiah will complete the full term, scuttling the chances of Shivakumar for the coveted post.  

(With PTI Inputs)